Flower Fun

Spring makes flower freaks out of the stodgiest of us.  Who doesn't love getting out and seeing these friendly dears pushing their ways out of the ground to cheer us?  But, can you name your posies?  Take a look at the virtual garden I've planted for you and name the azaleas, bleeding hearts, bluebells, crocuses, daffodils, forget-me-nots, hyacinths, irises, lilacs, lilies of the valley, peonies, and tulips.  Too bad these aren't scratch-and-sniff images!

Virtual stroll through our Missouri gardens

Hello, Nature-Lovers!  Welcome to our Missouri gardens.

I hope you will take a little break among our springtime plants . . .

and flowers!

Breathe.

Relax a little. 

And enjoy your virtual nature walk!

Simple Pleasures

They say the best things in life are free.  When you think about it, our lives are laced with hundreds of simple pleasures – little perks that satisfy and sooth, that make life seem A-Okay. 

Here’s a partial list of life’s little niceties:

A new toothbrush

Sleeping in on a rainy day

A baby’s smile

Making all the traffic lights

Fresh flowers – delivered

Finding money you didn’t know you had

Clothes that fit just right

Receiving a snail mail letter

The smell of bakery air

Hearing the right song at the right moment

Stars on a clear night

Saying the same thing simultaneously

Snow Days

The first bowl of cereal from the box

Fresh bed sheets

Drowsing in the sun with a light breeze

A good laugh shared

Spying your favorite bird at the bird feeder

When the workout is over

A sunset

What are some of your favorite simple pleasures?  Take a minute and add to the list!

Late Bloomer

This is the story of two African Violet plants, both purchased two years ago.  The first bloomed almost from day one, lovely white flowers, over and over, day after day.  In fact the plant did so well that I had to transplant it, then divided it – not once, but twice.  I now have three thriving plants from the same source – all producing a continuous profusion of white flowers. 

The second plant was sickly from the beginning.  I worried about it.  It didn’t bloom, barely grew.  I fed it like its sister, gave it the same water and light conditions.  It didn’t grow much, but didn’t die either.  When its sister outgrew pots and needed dividing, it stayed quietly in its original pot – flowerless and a little wilty.   I didn’t want to do anything to disrupt its precarious lease on life, yet I wanted it to blossom, too.  I kept nurturing it . . . and hoping.

Suddenly this summer, it has come out of its depression and has taken to light, water, and food like an adolescent.  My little plant that wouldn’t suddenly bloomed . . . and we now have one lovely sprig of dark purple to join the masses of white.

It was worth the wait.